Alfred houee



No. 623,7l7. Patented Apr. 25, I899.

A HQUEE BULLINGYSKATE.

(Application filed Sept. 16, 1898.)

(No Model.)

wzifflawewx NITED STAT-Es PATENT Erica,

ALFRED HOUEE, OF RENNES, FRANCE.

ROLLING SKATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 623,717, dated April 25, 1899.

Application filed September 16, 1898. Serial No. 691,104. (No model.)

1'0 ctZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that LALFRED HOUEE,a citizen of the French Republic, residing at Rennes, France, have invented certain new and usefullmprovemen'tsin Rolling Skates; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full,clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to means of human locomotion; and the object of the invention is to provide a wheel device adapted to be attached to the legs and feet of the user and which permits of a rapid locomotion with neither strain nor danger.

The essential feature of my invention is a cycle-wheel, the axis of which is attached to the leg by means of a support pivoted on this axis and located at the side of the wheel. The lower end of this support carries a movable skate on which the foot rests and at the rear extension of which a small supportingwheel is provided for the purpose of maintaining the equilibrium of an inexperienced user or to permit the latter to take a rest; but normally when the device is in motion this supporting-wheel rarely comes in contact with the ground.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side view of the device; and Fig. 2, a front view thereof, the cycle-wheel appearing in section.

A is the cycle or driving wheel, rotating on the axle B, rigidly secured in a support or standard 0 to be attached to the leg. At the lower end of this standard is an axle D, carrying a skate E, pivoted thereon.

The skate is attached to the foot in the usual manner or by any suitable means, but in such wise as to leave the foot quite free for all movements and independent of the movements of the leg.

At the rear of the skate is mounted an additional wheel F, and in front is mounted a roller G, that normally remains in its elevated position and only has rolling contact with the ground when any accidental shock occurs in the course of running. The wheel F,as above mentioned, serves merely as a support when the device is stationary.

The axle B carries a ratchet-wheel II, that is rigidly secured to the drive-wheel A and in which engages a pawl J, pivoted on a stud K, fixed in the legsupport O.

The main feature of the invention is the arrangement of the wheels, which when in use are located one on either side of the skater and which are actuated not only by the feet, but also and chiefiybythe legs. a The feetbeing thus located below the axis of the large wheel, the latter may be of any appropriate size and shall always be closely attached to the leg, which, with the foot, will bear all the strain.

Having thus described my invention, I claim The combination of the leg-support 0, pro-' vided with suitable fastening means, an axle B rigid thereon, a drive-wheel A rotatably mounted on said axle, a ratchet-wheel I-I fixed to its hub, a pawl J pivoted to stud K on said support and adapted to engage with said ratchet-wheel, a skate E pivoted at D to the base of said leg-support, a roller G carried in an extended portion of the forward end of said skate, with its lower periphery substantially in the same plane as the skate, and a wheel F rotatable in the rear extremity of the skate and adapted to steady the device, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ALFRED I-IoUEE.

Witnesses BOUCHEROT, GE. S. MENABD. 

